This Afternoon Is Dickey’s Turn To Shine

So much has already been said and written about the incredible season, or should I say year, R.A. Dickey has had in 2012. It began with a monumental climb up the dangerous cliffs of Mount Kilimanjaro all in the name of a noble cause, followed by the release of his best-selling autobiography that chronicled his fascinating life’s journey that began within the depths of being sexually abused as a child, and the courage, spirit and determination it took to bring him to unimaginable heights as a Major League Baseball player.

That would make for a full plate and a substantial year for most men, but not for Dickey who will take the mound on Thursday afternoon in search of his 20th win of this major league season in what will be the final Mets home game of the year.

It’s been quite a ride for this remarkable man that we’ve had the pleasure meeting and speaking to him on several different occasions throughout this season, including a candid one-on-one interview with MMO at the MLB Fan Cave in NYC last week. He loves people. He’s genuinely one of the nicest guys of the game.

How many pitchers receive a standing ovation after they’ve just thrown a complete-game one-hitter against the home team? That’s what happened in Tampa Bay when Dickey defeated the Rays 9-1.

Following R.A. Dickey’s campaign this season for the Mets has been a non-stop joyride. After a first half that saw him go 12-1 with a 2.40 ERA and 0.93 WHIP, there were many skeptics who warned us that it will all come crashing down in the second half,. You know how all those talking heads can be, but for the most part, as the team fell apart around him, Dickey kept persevering and forging ahead.

Now, with just days left to the season he leads the National League with a 2.66 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, five complete games, three shutouts, and an amazing 25 quality starts. He trails Clayton Kershaw by just two strikes-outs for the league lead with 209 and should easily surpass that this afternoon.

For the time being, the Mets’ undisputed ace is just one win behind the Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez who has already reached the 20-win plateau. But with Dickey slated for two more starts before the end of the season and Gonzalez scheduled for just one more, there’s a chance Dickey can still take the lead. But for now, the focus is on today and he has millions of avid Mets fans pulling for him.

This is shaping up to be an exciting afternoon at Citi Field as the Mets close out their final home game of the season. The team has suffered through another disappointing season in the standings, but there will be plenty of time to discuss that later on. Today let’s just focus on Dickey and his quest for that magic number 20. We wish R.A. all the best and look forward to a great game as he baffles the Pittsburgh Pirates into submission.

Enjoy the game everybody! 🙂

LETS GO METS!

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73, '00 and '15, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction and interact with other passionate Met fans like you. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.